A flawless five-under 68 saw India's Shiv Kapur open up a three shot lead atop the table at the midway stage of the US $300,000 Double A International Golf tournament at the St. Andrews Hill Golf Club in Rayong, Thailand, on Friday.
The 23-year-old Indian, who had a seven-under 66 in the first round on the par-73 course and is now 12-under 134 for two days, holds sole lead at this stage of an Asian Tour event for the first time in his fledgling career.
Kapur is ahead of the Thai duo of Thammannoon Srirot and Thongchai Jaidee. Srirot with a 68, including five birdies on the front nine, in the round was three behind at 137, while Jaidee (71) was one shot further down at eight-under 138.
Harmeet Kahlon of India, who came out with a four-under 69, including an eagle on the par-five 13th hole, was the next best Indian after Kapur. Kahlon, with six-under 140, made up of rounds of 71 and 69, was tied for eighth. In the Hero Honda Indian Open, Kahlon had three eagles.
Kapur, a rookie, started on the back nine and had birdies on the 12th, 13th and 16th to turn in three-under 33. Then came the front nine, which has the historic par-6 fourth hole. He birdied the hole and came to four-under for the day and then added one more birdie on the sixth to make it five-under, which he is where he finished.
Kapur had to endure a 55-minute delay after 12 holes because of lightning. But he did not let that bother him as he came back and birdied the fourth and sixth for a fine day.
"My game is coming around and I am happy the way things have been going in the second half of the season. The stint I had with my coach, Kel Lewellyn, during the break in the Asian Tour, did me a world of good. And now, especially in the last five tournaments, my game has come together," said Kapur, who finished in top-10 in four of the last five starts.
Ashok Kumar (72) was lying tied 24th, as some players were yet to finish play on a day, which was hit by lightning.
Ashok had just one birdie and rest 17 pars in a very steady round.
Amandeep Johl and Mukesh Kumar shot steady rounds of two-under 71 each and were tied 29th at two-under. Johl birdie the monstrous 878-yard par-6 fifth hole for the second day running.
Rahil Gangjee overcame a double bogey on par-5 seventh to finish at par 73 and he was tied 29 th at two-under for two days.
Gaurav Ghei, second last week in Hero Honda Indian Open, survived a scare after having two bogeys in front nine. He finished with a 71 and tied for 39 the and ended at one-under for two days and safely entered the weekend rounds, as the cut came at one-over.
Firoz Ali (71) finished at one-over for two days and came inside the cut at tied 59th.
Arjun Singh, one-under for two days after 15 holes on second day, and Digvijay Singh, even after 15 on second day, were still on the course.
Leading second round scores
134 - Shiv Kapur (IND) 66-68
137 - Thammanoon Srirot (THA) 69-68
138 - Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 67-71, Simon Yates (SCO) 70-68
139 - Angelo Que (PHI) 69-70, Jason Dawes (AUS) 68-71
140 - Harmeet Kahlon (IND) 71-69, Steven Tan (MAS) 70-70, Alistair Presnell (AUS) 73-67, Jochen Lupprian (GER) 71-69
141 - Chris Travers (AUS) 72-69, Wang Ter-Chang (TPE) 68-73, Unho Park (AUS) 68-73, Pat Giles (AUS) 70-71, Mahal Pearce (NZL) 71-70
142 - Nakarintra Ratanakul [A] (THA) 68-74, Gerald Rosales (PHI) 72-70, Chris Rodgers (ENG) 74-68, Larry Austin (AUS) 73-69, Scott Strange (AUS) 70-72, Yeh Chang-Ting (TPE) 69-73
143 - Ashok Kumar (IND) 71-72, Prom Meesawat (THA) 72-71, Sung Mao-Chang (TPE) 71-72, Anura Rohana (SRI) 74-69.
Note: A total of 24 players failed to complete the second round due to fading light. They will resume Saturday 7 am.